Secondary menu

Free SNAP EBT Equipment Program

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Farmers Market Coalition (FMC) have made funds available to provide eligible farmers markets and direct marketing farmers with free electronic benefit transfer (EBT) equipment necessary to process Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. (More Info) The USDA defines a farmers market as a fixed location where two or more farmer-producers sell agricultural goods they've produced (particularly fresh fruit and vegetables, but also meat products, dairy products, and grains) directly to consumers. Direct marketing farmers are farmer-producers that sell goods they've produced directly to consumers.

Please note the 2017 application site will close on November 21, and USDA FNS anticipates reopening the program in 2018 at a date to be determined. Interested farmers markets and direct-marketing farmers may apply before the 2017 funding period closes on midnight on November 21, 2017. If you are unable to make the deadline, farmers markets and direct-marketing farmers interested in obtaining equipment through this Program once it reopens in 2018 should email FarmersMarket@fns.usda.gov to be placed onto a wait list.

--

FMC’s Free SNAP EBT Program Eligibility Requirements
Farmers markets and direct marketing farmers (who sell at one or more farmers markets) are eligible for up to three years of free SNAP EBT equipment and service through FMC’s Free SNAP EBT Equipment Program if they are currently SNAP authorized, AND:

Do not currently possess functioning EBT equipment; OR

Currently possess functioning EBT equipment, but received that equipment before May 2, 2012.

If the above requirements apply to you, then you’re in the right place! To apply, you’ll need to provide some basic information about your farmers market or farm, and your SNAP Permit number (also known as your FNS number). Click below to start FMC’s Free SNAP EBT Equipment Program Application.